As far as financial instruments go … bonds are boring. And confusing. Maybe that is the point. Think about it — rate v. yield v. total return. Wat. Yahn. Well, rate = interest, or the money the bond is supposed to make. Yield = a question, or does interest compound? If so, what is the …
book reviews
The Four Horsemen of Consumption
Only four things to do with the thing after spending money on the thing. Use it. Sell it. Gift it. Toss it. Most folks will use/consume it – whatever it is – for a bit then either give/gift it to someone else, try to sell it in exchange for cash/(rarely) trade, or throw it away …
Dante Said There Were How Many?
Wow, OK … um, yeah. Good book, although I have to say I’m a bit … discomfited by the ending. Not a popular author, though he(?) should be. Nice quick&dirty read. A guy wakes up on a bus without knowing who he is or how he got there, and the story just develops from there. …
Don’t Believe the Hype
There’s only one book that I started and did not finish, and I regret that to this day. Wonder how it all turned out. Well not really, because it was nonfiction, about past and current events, but still. Nonetheless, however, despite, irrespective … this latest book? Sucked. The salutations and praise heaped on its covers? …
Bring Marshmallows
Just finished a re-read of a great novel … Robert R. McCammon, should look him up. Writes big epic fiction, lots of immersive fun. “They Thirst.” “Swan Song.” Etc. Latest … “Speaks the Nightbird” about witchery in a small, emerging New World township, pirate’s gold and Jack One Eye (not what you think, you dirty …
Law #8 – Honey, Vinegar, or Poo / Also, Hey DJ
There is an ancient idiom in Chinese culture that encourages taking the long view; meaning, look beyond the immediate towards long-range consequences and/or results of a particular action. Hong Kong is an excellent example. In 1898, the British “leased” Hong Kong and its territories from China for 99 years, with the region released to China …
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Law #7 – The History of America
Seems fitting that a guy with no real talent, vision, or intellect would affix the name of America’s greatest (Serbian) inventor to his self-piloted, suicidal automobile. Was this old when discovered that Nikola Tesla not only pioneered the AC system of electricity (inapposite to and more effective/efficient than Edison’s preferred DC) but his patent was …
Law #6 – LOOK!!!
In 2004, the world received its very first celebrity sex tape. “One Night in Paris” is a grainy, night-vision, cringefest starring a neo-celebutante hotel heiress and some random meatstick with whom she was drugging and smacking uglies. Methinks “viral” is the appropriate term, in all the possible ways. A few years later a similar mess …
Law #5 – Perception is Reality; or, You Are What Others Think
Back in the … my heavens 1980’s? (shuddercringe) there was this really good cop show called “Hill Street Blues.” My favorite character was (of course) the cop who bit people but overall the entire cast was really, really good. One character who really stood out was Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, a gentle, no-nonsense giant who genuinely …
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Law #4 – Hold Your Tongue; see Proverbs 21:23
Louis XIV (the very same he who would banish Darling Nicky) was legendary for being extremely taciturn; he kept his thoughts, opinions, and fears to himself, revealing his decision only in deed. After agonizing over matters of state, his advisors would finally settle on a few alternatives to present to the French king, and reportedly …
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